Shipping pallet and container formed therefrom

Abstract

A shipping pallet is provided formed of a unitary sheet of material and having a generally planar base with a plurality of spaced proturberances extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base. The protuberances are adapted to receive respective items to be shipped thereon and to maintain such items in a predetermined relationship. The pallets further include a plurality of foot means projecting downwardly from the base, with portions of said foot means being proximal to each upwardly projecting protuberance so that said foot means effect enhanced support for items to be positioned on the protuberances and effect enhanced load distribution for the items positioned on the pallet. Additionally, a shipping container formed from two of the shipping pallets is provided for containing and transporting a load of items or packages having tubular carrier cores. In the container, the respective protuberances on the upper and lower pallets are substantially in alignment with each other and are received within the tubular carrier cores of the load of items. The protuberances substantially prevent the engaged items from shifting laterally in any direction relative to each other and thereby maintain the items in a predetermined relationship within the container. Where the load of items comprises a plurality of layers, stabilizing means are further provided for cooperating with the items of adjacent layers, thereby preventing lateral shifting of the items relative to each other and thus maintaining the items of the load in a predetermined relationship within the container.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A shipping pallet of unitary construction and adapted for use with another substantially identcal pallet so as to serve as a bottom or top wall of a shipping container for transporting and storing a load, said shipping pallet having a generally planar base having an outer peripheral rim extending generally upwardly relative to said base and wherein a sleeve receiving groove extends alongside of and is surrounded by said rim, a plurality of spaced protuberances extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base for receiving thereon respective items to be shipped and for maintaining such items in a predetermined relationship, a plurality of foot means extending from the base and serving for carrying the load on the pallet, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, and wherein said foot means are spaced apart from each other and each foot means comprises at least one downwardly projecting member and a corresponding platform member adjacent the base of each projecting member, the construction and location of each of said projecting members and corresponding platform members being such that each projecting member is adapted to be abuttingly engaged by a corresponding platform member of another pallet and to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent pallets when the pallets are used as tops and bottoms for shipping containers in stacked condition, a reinforcing gridwork of a plurality of reinforcing ribs and valleys located between and adjacent the various projecting members and adjacent the corresponding platform members for strengthening the pallet, the height of said reinforcing ribs and the depth of said valleys being only a fraction of the distance that said projecting members extend from said planar base so that said reinforcing gridwork does not interfere with the stacking of shipping containers using this pallet construction and so that clearance is available for the arms of a forklift, and each of said upwardly extending protuberances having one of said downwardly extending projecting members proximally located thereto with the proximally located projecting member being positioned closer to the protuberance than the distance from the protuberance to the next adjacent protuberance so that said downwardly extending projecting members effect enhanced support for each of the items to be positioned on the respective protuberances and thereby effect enhanced load distribution for all the items positioned on the pallet. 
     
     
       2. A shipping pallet according to claim 1, wherein shoulder means is provided adjacent the lower portion of each of said protuberances for restingly receiving thereon the item to be shipped, said shoulder means having an upper surface on a level above that of said base for maintaining the items positioned on the protuberances in spaced relation from said base. 
     
     
       3. A shipping pallet according to claim 1 wherein shoulder means is provided adjacent the lower portion of each of said protuberances for restingly receiving thereon the item to be shipped, said shoulder means having an upper surface on substantially the same level as that of said base, and said reinforcing gridwork having portions thereof arranged to provide support to items resting on said shoulder means at a plurality of spaced apart locations on radii extending radially outwardly in various directions from substantially the center of each protuberance. 
     
     
       4. A shipping pallet according to claim 1 wherein said protuberances are frusto conically shaped for guidingly receiving the items to be positioned thereon. 
     
     
       5. A shipping pallet according to claim 1 wherein said rim has a substantially planar inner substantially vertical surface, and means interrupting and extending inwardly from said planar inner vertical surface and adapted to frictionally engage a sleeve positioned in said sleeve receiving groove for aiding in maintaining such sleeve in groove. 
     
     
       6. A shipping pallet of unitary construction and adapted for use with another substantially identical pallet so as to serve as a bottom or top wall of a shipping container for transporting and storing a load, said shipping pallet having a generally planar base having an outer peripheral rim extending generally upwardly relative to said base and wherein a sleeve receiving groove extends alongside of and is surrounded by said rim, a plurality of parallel rows of spaced protuberances extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base for receiving thereon respective items to be shipped and for maintaining such items in a predetermined relationship, said rows of protuberances being arranged in lengthwise and widthwise rows, with said rows in each direction being parallel to each other, said protuberances all being of substantially the same size and shape and substantially uniformly spaced apart from each other, a plurality of foot means extending from the base and serving for carrying the load on the pallet, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, and wherein said foot means are spaced apart from each other and each foot comprises at least one downwardly projecting member and a corresponding platform member adjacent the base of each projecting member, the construction and location of each of said projecting members and corresponding platform members being such that each projecting member is adapted to be abuttingly engaged by a corresponding platform member of another pallet and to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent pallets when the pallets are used as tops and bottoms for shipping containers in stacked condition, said projecting members and said platform members also being so constructed and arranged relative to each other that the pallet when in use in a predetermined position of orientation, and at least another position of orientation 180 degrees out-of-phase therefrom, may be stacked in mating relation to a substantially identical inverted pallet and with the projecting members abutting the platform members of the inverted pallet and serving to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between the adjacent pallets in a plurality of directions, a reinforcing gridwork of a plurality of reinforcing ribs and valleys located between and adjacent the various projecting members and adjacent the corresponding platform members for strengthening the pallet, the height of said reinforcing ribs and the depth of said valleys being only a fraction of the distance that said projecting members extend from said planar base so that said reinforcing gridwork does not interfere with the stacking of shipping containers using this pallet construction and so that clearance is available for the arms of a forklift, each of said upwardly extending protuberances having one of said downwardly extending projecting members proximally located thereto with the proximally located projecting member being positioned closer to the protuberance than the distance from the protuberance to the next adjacent protuberance so that said downwardly extending projecting members effect enhanced support for each of the items to be positioned on the respective protuberances and thereby effect enhanced load distribution for all the items positioned on the pallet, and wherein said protuberances closest to said sleeve receiving groove are spaced from the groove a distance of substantially half that of the distance that the protuberances are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
       7. A shipping pallet according to claim 6 wherein shoulder means is provided adjacent the lower portion of each of said protuberances for restingly receiving thereon the item to be shipped, said shoulder means having an upper surface on a level above that of said base for maintaining the items positioned on the protuberances in spaced relation from said base. 
     
     
       8. A shipping container according to claim 6 wherein shoulder means is provided adjacent the lower portion of each of said protuberances for restingly receiving thereon the item to be shipped, said shoulder means having an upper surface on substantially the same level as that of said base, and said reinforcing gridwork having portions thereof arranged to provide support to items resting on said shoulder means at a plurality of spaced apart locations on radii extending radially outwardly in various directions from substantially the center of each protuberance. 
     
     
       9. A shipping pallet according to claim 6 wherein said protuberances are frusto conically shaped for guidingly receiving the items to be positioned thereon. 
     
     
       10. A shipping pallet according to claim 6, wherein said rim has a substantially planar inner substantially vertical surface, and means interrupting and extending inwardly from said planar inner vertical surface and adapted to frictionally engage a sleeve positioned in said sleeve receiving groove for aiding in maintaining such sleeve in the groove. 
     
     
       11. A shipping container for containing and transporting a load of items such as packages of yarn or other strand material having tubular carrier cores around which the yarn or other strand material is positioned, said shipping container comprising upper and lower pellets of substantially identical construction, said upper and lower pellets being inverted relative to each other so as to be adapted to be stacked in mating relation to the pallets of adjacent containers, means interconnecting the upper and lower pallets of the shipping container for maintaining the integrity of the shipping container, said pellets each being of unitary construction and having a generally planar base having an outer peripheral rim extending generally upwardly relative to said base and wherein a sleeve receiving groove extends alongside of and is surrounded by said rim, a plurality of spaced protuberances extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base for receiving thereon respective items to be shipped and for maintaining such items in a predetermined relationship, the protuberances on said upper pallet being arranged substantially in alignment with respective protuberances on said lower pallet with the protuberances on the upper pallet being received within the upper ends of tubular carrier cores of the load of items and with the protuberances on the lower pallet being received within the lower ends of tubular carrier cores of the load of items, and said protuberances being so constructed and arranged relative to said tubular carrier cores of the items of the load that the items are substantially prevented from shifting laterally in any direction relative to each other to maintain the items of the load in a predetermined relationship within the container, a plurality of foot means extending from the base and serving for carrying the load on the pallet, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, and wherein said foot means are spaced apart from each other and each foot means comprises at least one downwardly projecting member and a corresponding platform member adjacent the base of each projecting member, the construction and location of each of said projecting members and corresponding platform members being such that each projecting member is adapted to be abuttingly engaged by a corresponding platform member of another pallet and to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent pellets when the pellets are used as tops and bottoms for shipping containers in stacked condition, a reinforcing gridwork of a plurality of reinforcing ribs and valleys located between and adjacent the various projecting members and adjacent the corresponding platform members for strengthening the pallet, the height of said reinforcing ribs and the depth of said valleys being only a fraction of the distance that said projecting members extend from said planar base so that said reinforcing gridwork does not interefere with the stacking of shipping containers and so that clearance is available for the arms of a forklift, and each of said upwardly extending protuberances having one of said downwardly extending projecting members proximally located thereto with the proximally located projecting member being positioned closer to the protuberance than the distance from the protuberance to the next adjacent protuberance so that said downwardly extending projecting members effect enhanced support for each of the items to be positioned on the respective protuberances and thereby effect enhanced load distribution for all the items positioned on the pallet. 
     
     
       12. A shipping container according to claim 11 wherein the load of items comprises a plurality of layers and wherein stabilizing means are provided for cooperating with the items of adjacent layers and for preventing lateral shifting of the items relative to each other for thereby aiding in maintaining the items of the load in a predetermined relationship within the container. 
     
     
       13. A shipping container according to claim 11 wherein the load of items comprises a plurality of layers and wherein stabilizing means is provided between adjacent layers of the load of items for stabilizing the layers of items relative to each other, said stabilizing means comprising a planar member extending substantially parallel to said pallets, and a plurality of spaced protuberances carried by and extending outwardly from opposite sides of said planar member and being received within the proximal end portions of the tubular carrier cores of the load of items for stabilizing the items of the load within the container. 
     
     
       14. A shipping container according to claim 11 wherein the load of items comprises a plurality of layers and wherein stabilizing means are provided for stabilizing the layers with respect to each other, said stabilizing means comprising a plurality of spaced substantially parallel elongate members positioned between the upper and lower pallets and extending substantially parallel to and within the tubular carrier cores of the load of items for interconnecting the items of each layer with items in adjacent layers for aiding in maintaining the items of the load in a predetermined stabilized relationship within the container. 
     
     
       15. A shipping container according to claim 11 wherein the load of items comprises a plurality of layers and wherein stabilizing means is provided between adjacent layers of the load of items, said stabilizing means comprising a plurality of adapters, each adapter comprising a body portion having opposing protuberances thereon positioned within proximal ends of the tubular carrier cores of the load of items for stabilizing the same and further aiding in maintaining the items of the load in a predetermined stabilized relationship within the container. 
     
     
       16. A shipping container according to claim 11 wherein said load of items comprises a single layer of items and wherein the protuberances on the upper and lower pallets are positioned within the opposite end portions of the tubular cores of the single layer of items for maintaining the items of the load in a predetermined relationship within the container. 
     
     
       17. A shipping container for containing and transporting a load of items such as packages of yarn or other strand material having tubular carrier cores around which the yarn or other strand material is positioned, said shipping container comprising upper and lower pallets of substantially identical construction, said upper and lower pallets being inverted relative to each other so as to be adapted to be stacked in mating relation to the pallets of adjacent containers, means interconnecting the upper and lower pallets of the shipping container for maintaining the integrity of the shipping container, said pallets each being of unitary construction and having a generally planar base having an outer peripheral rim extending generally upwardly relative to said base and wherein a sleeve receiving groove extends alongside of and is surrounded by said rim, a plurality of spaced protuberances extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base for receiving thereon respective items to be shipped and for maintaining such items in a predetermined relationship, the protuberances on said upper pallet being arranged substantially in alignment with respective protuberances on said lower pallet with the protuberances on the upper pallet being received within the upper ends of tubular carrier cores of the load of items and with the protuberances on the lower pallet being received within the lower ends of tubular carrier cores of the load of items, and said protuberances being so constructed and arranged relative to said tubular carrier cores of the items of the load that the items are substantially prevented from shifting laterally in any direction relative to each other to maintain the items of the load in a predetermined relationship within the container, a plurality of foot means extending from the base and serving for carrying the load on the pallet, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, and wherein said foot means are spaced apart from each other and each foot means comprises at least one downwardly projecting member and a corresponding platform member adjacent the base of each projecting member, the construction and location of each of said projecting members and corresponding platform members being such that each projecting member is adapted to be abuttingly engaged by a corresponding platform member of another pallet and to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent pallets when the pallets are used as tops and bottoms for shipping containers in stacked condition, said projecting members and said platform members also being so constructed and arranged relative to each other that the pallet when in use in a predetermined position of orientation, and at least another position of orientation 180 degrees out-of-phase therefrom, may be stacked in mating relation to a substantially identical inverted pallet and with the projecting members abutting the platform members of the inverted pallet and serving to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between the adjacent pallets in a plurality of directions, a reinforcing gridwork of a plurality of reinforcing ribs and valleys located between and adjacent the various projecting members and adjacent the corresponding platform members for strengthening the pallet, the height of said reinforcing ribs and the depth of said valleys being only a fraction of the distance that said projecting members extend from said planar base so that said reinforcing gridwork does not interfere with the stacking of shipping containers and so that clearance is available for the arms of a forklift, and each of said upwardly extending protuberances having one of said downwardly extending projecting members proximally located thereto with the proximally located projecting member being positioned closer to the protuberance than the distance from the protuberance to the next adjacent protuberance so that said downwardly extending projecting members effect enhanced support for each of the items to be positioned on the respective protuberances and thereby effect enhanced load distribution for all the items positioned on the pallet. 
     
     
       18. A shipping pallet of the forkliftable type and of unitary plastic construction and adapted for use with another substantially identical pallet so as to serve as a bottom or top wall of a shipping container for transporting and storing a load, said shipping pallet having a generally planar base having an outer peripheral rim extending generally upwardly relative to said base and wherein a sleeve receiving groove extends alongside of and is surrounded by said rim, a plurality of spaced hollow protuberances extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base for receiving thereon respective items to be shipped and for maintaining such items in predetermined relationship, a plurality of foot means extending from the base and serving for carrying the load on the pallet, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, and wherein said foot means are spaced apart from each other and each foot means comprises at least one downwardly projecting member and a corresponding substantially flat platform member adjacent the base of each projecting member, said projecting members and corresponding platform members of each foot means being symmetrically disposed wih respect to the centerlines of the pallet such that said projecting members are in mirror image relation to the platform members of the corresponding foot means positioned on the opposite side of the centerlines so that each projecting member is adapted to be abuttingly engaged by a corresponding platform member of another pallet and to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent pallets when the pallets are used as tops and bottoms for shipping containers in stacked condition, and so that the pallet when in use in a predetermined position of orientation, and at least another position of orientation 180° out-of-phase therefrom, may be stacked in mating relation to a substantially identical inverted pallet and with the projecting members abutting the platform members of the inverted pallet, all of said projecting members being of hollow construction open at the upper end and tapered for nestability thereof when empty pallets are stacked with each other, said projecting members also having a height which is a substantial portion of the overall height of the pallet and being arranged so as to define forklift passages between the projecting members of a substantially uniform overall height for receiving the arms of a forklift, said projecting members having flat bottom bearing surfaces for vertical load distribution and flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces for self aligning stackability, said flat tapered side walls having an overall height at least several times greater than their thickness and substantially the same as the forklift passages, said height and said hollow construction and said symmetrical arrangement of said projecting members being such that such projecting members may be nestably engaged with projecting members of another substantially identical unloaded pallet facing in the same direction and in a predetermined position of orientation and at least another position of orientation 180° out-of-phase therefrom, whereby a relatively large number of unloaded pallets may be nestably stacked so as to occupy considerably less space when being stored or shipped, a reinforcing gridwork of a plurality of reinforcing ribs and valleys located between and adjacent the various projecting members and adjacent the corresponding platform members for strengthening the pallet, the height of said reinforcing ribs and the depth of said valleys being only a fraction of the distance that said projecting members extend from said planar base so that said reinforcing gridwork does not interfere with the stacking of shipping containers using this pallet construction and so that clearance is available for the arms of a forklift, and each of said upwardly extending protuberances having one of said downwardly extending projecting members proximally located thereto with the proximally located projecting member being positioned closer to the protuberance than the distance from the protuberance to the next adjacent protuberance so that said downwardly extending projecting members effect enhanced support for each of the items to be positioned on the respective protuberances and thereby effect enhanced load distribution for all the items positioned on the pallet. 
     
     
       19. A shipping pallet of the forkliftable type and of unitary plastic construction and adapted for use with another substantially identical pallet so as to serve as a bottom or top wall of a shipping container for transporting and storing a load, said shipping pallet having a generally planar base having an outer peripheral rim extending generally upwardly relative to said base and wherein a sleeve receiving groove extends alongside of and is surrounded by said rim, a plurality of parallel rows of spaced hollow protuberances extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base for receiving thereon respective items to be shipped and for maintaining such items in a predetermined relationship, said rows of protuberances being arranged in lenghtwise and widthwise rows, with said rows in each direction being parallel to each other, said protuberances all being of substantially the same size and shape and substantially uniformly spaced apart from each other, a plurality of foot means extending from the base and serving for carrying the load on the pallet, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, and wherein said foot means are spaced apart from each other and each foot means comprises at least one downwardly projecting member and a corresponding substantially flat platform member adjacent the base of each projecting member, said projecting members and corresponding platform members of each foot means being symmetrically disposed with respect to the centerlines of the pallet such that said projecting members are in mirror image relation to the platform members of the corresponding foot means positioned on the opposite side of the centerlines so that each projecting member is adapted to be abuttingly engaged by a corresponding platform member of another pallet and to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent pallets when the pallets are used as tops and bottoms for shipping containers in stacked condition and so that the pallet when in use in a predetermined position of orientation, and at least another position of orientation 180 degrees out-of-phase therefrom, may be stacked in mating relation to a substantially identical inverted pallet and with the projecting members abutting the platform members of the inverted pallet and serving to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between the adjacent pallets in a plurality of directions, all of said projecting members being of hollow construction open at the upper end and tapered for nestability thereof when empty pallets are stacked with each other, said projecting members also having a height which is a substantial portion of the overall height of the pallet and being arranged so as to define forklift passages between the projecting members of a substantially uniform overall height for receiving the arms of a forklift, said projecting members having flat bottom bearing surfaces for vertical load distribution and flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces for self aligning stackability, said flat tapered side walls having an overall height at least several times greater than their thickness and substantially the same as the forklift passages, said height and said hollow construction and said symmetrical arrangement of said projecting members being such that said projecting members may be nestably engaged with projecting members of another substantially identical unloaded pallet facing in the same direction and in a predetermined position of orientation and at least another position of orientation 180° out-of-phase therefrom, whereby a relatively large number of unloaded pallets may be nestably stacked so as to occupy considerably less space when being stored or shipped, a reinforcing gridwork of a plurality of reinforcing ribs and valleys located between and adjacent the various projecting members and adjacent the corresponding platform members for strengthening the pallet, the height of said reinforcing ribs and the depth of said valleys being only a fraction of the distance that said projecting members extend from said planar base so that said reinforcing gridwork does not interfere with the stacking of shipping containers using this pallet construction and so that clearance is available for the arms of a forklift, each of said upwardly extending protuberances having one of said downwardly extending projecting members proximally located thereto with the proximally located projecting member being positioned closer to the protuberance than the distance from the protuberance to the next adjacent protuberance so that said downwardly extending projecting members effect enhanced support for each of the items to be positioned on the respective protuberances and thereby effect enhanced load distribution for all the items positioned of the pallet, and wherein said protuberances closest to said sleeve receiving groove are spaced from the groove a distance of substantially half that of the distance that the protuberances are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
       20. A shipping container for containing and transporting a load of items such as packages of yarn or other strand material having tubular carrier cores around which the yarn or other strand material is positioned, said shipping container comprising upper and lower pallets of substantially identical construction, said upper and lower pallets being inverted relative to each other so as to be adapted to be stacked in mating relation to the pallets of adjacent containers, means interconnecting the upper and lower pallets of the shipping container for maintaining the integrity of the shipping container, said pallets each being of unitary construction and having a generally planar base having an outer peripheral rim extending generally upwardly relative to said base and wherein a sleeve receiving groove extends alongside of and is surrounded by said rim, a plurality of spaced hollow protuberances extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base for receiving thereon respective items to be shipped and for maintaining such items in a predetermined relationship, the protuberances on said upper pallet being arranged substantially in alignment with respective protuberances on said lower pallet with the protuberances on the upper pallet being received within the upper ends of tubular carrier cores of the load of items and with the protuberances on the lower pallet being received within the lower ends of tubular carrier cores of the load of items, and said protuberances being so constructed and arranged relative to said tubular carrier cores of the items of the load that the items are substantially prevented from shifting laterally in any direction relative to each other to maintain the items of the load in a predetermined relationship within the container, a plurality of foot means extending from the base and serving for carrying the load on the pallet, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, and wherein said foot means are spaced apart from each other and each foot means comprises at least one downwardly projecting member and a corresponding substantially flat platform member adjacent the base of each projecting member, said projecting members and corresponding platform members of each foot means being symmetrically disposed with respect to the centerlines of the pallet such that said projecting members are in mirror image relation to the platform members of the corresponding foot means positioned on the opposite side of the centerlines so that each projecting member is adapted to be abuttingly engaged by a corresponding platform member of another pallet and to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent pallets when the pallets are used as tops and bottoms for shipping containers in stacked condition, and so that the pallet when in use in a predetermined position of orientation, and at least another position of orientation 180° out-of-phase therefrom, may be stacked in mating relation to a substantially identical inverted pallet and with the projecting members abutting the platform members of the inverted pallet, all of said projecting members being of hollow construction open at the upper end and tapered for nestability thereof when empty pallets are stacked with each other, said projecting members also having a height which is a substantial portion of the overall height of the pallet and being arranged so as to define forklift passages between the projecting members of a substantially uniform overall height for receiving the arms of a forklift, said projecting members having flat bottom bearing surfaces for vertical load distribution and flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces for self aligning stackability, said flat tapered side walls having an overall height at least several times greater than their thickness and substantially the same as the forklift passages, said height and said hollow construction and said symmetrical arrangement of said projecting members being such that said projecting members may be nestably engaged with projecting members of another substantially identical unloaded pallet facing in the same direction and in a predetermined position of orientation and at least another position of orientation 180° out-of-phase therefrom, whereby a relatively large number of unloaded pallets may be nestably stacked so as to occupy considerably less space when being stored or shipped, a reinforcing gridwork of a plurality of reinforcing ribs and valleys located between and adjacent the various projecting members and adjacent the corresponding platform members for strengthening the pallet, the height of said reinforcing ribs and the depth of said valleys being only a fraction of the distance that said projecting members extend from said planar base so that said reinforcing gridwork does not interfere with the stacking of shipping containers and so that clearance is available for the arms of a forklift, and each of said upwardly extending protuberances having one of said downwardly extending projecting members proximally located thereto with the proximally located projecting member being positioned closer to the protuberance than the distance from the protuberance to the next adjacent protuberance so that said downwardly extending projecting members effect enhanced support for each of the items to be positioned of the respective protuberances and thereby effect enhanced load distribution for all the items positioned on the pallet. 
     
     
       21. A shipping container for containing and transporting a load of items such as packages of yarn or other strand material having tubular carrier cores around which the yarn or other strand material is positioned, said shipping container comprising upper and lower pallets of substantially identical construction, said upper and lower pallets being inverted relative to each other so as to be adapted to be stacked in mating relation to the pallets of adjacent containers, means interconnecting the upper and lower pallets of the shipping container for maintaining the integrity of the shipping container, said pallets each being of unitary construction and having a generally planar base having an outer peripheral rim extending generally upwardly relative to said base and wherein a sleeve receiving groove extends alongside of and is surrounded by said rim, a plurality parallel rows of spaced hollow protuberances extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base for receiving thereon respective items to be shipped and for maintaining such items in a predetermined relationship, said rows of protuberances being arranged in lengthwise and widthwise rows, with said rows in each direction being parallel to each other, said protuberances all being of substantially the same size and shape and substantially uniformly spaced apart from each other, the protuberances on said upper pallet being arranged substantially in alignment with respective protuberances on said lower pallet with the protuberances on the upper pallet being received within the upper ends of tubular carrier cores of the load of items and with the protuberances on the lower pallet being received within the lower ends of tubular carrier cores of the load of items, and said protuberances being so constructed and arranged relative to said tubular carrier cores of the items of the load that the items are substantially prevented from shifting laterally in any direction relative to each other to maintaim the items of the load in a predetermined relationship within the container, a plurality of foot means extending from the base and serving for carrying the load on the pallet, said foot means including corner foot means positioned in respective corner areas of the pallet, central foot means positioned centrally of the pallet, and intermediate foot means positioned between adjacent corner foot means, and wherein said foot means are spaced apart from each other and each foot means comprises at least one downwardly projecting member and a corresponding substantially flat platform member adjacent the base of each projecting member, said projecting members and corresponding platform members of each foot means being symmetrically disposed with respect to the centerlines of the pallet such that said projecting members are in mirror image relation to the platform members of the corresponding foot means positioned on the opposite side of the centerlines so that each projecting member is adapted to be abuttingly engaged by a corresponding platform member of another pallet and to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between adjacent pallets when the pallets are used as tops and bottoms for shipping containers in stacked condition, said projecting members and said platform members also being so constructed and arranged relative to each other that the pallet when in use in a predetermined position of orientation, and at least another positon of orientation 180 degrees out-of-phase therefrom, may be stacked in mating relation to a substantially identical inverted pallet and with the projecting members abutting the platform members of the inverted pallet and serving to provide a lateral anti-shift interengagement between the adjacent pallets in a plurality of directions, all of said projecting members being of hollow construction open at the upper end and tapered for nestability thereof when empty pallets are stacked with each other, said projecting members also having a height which is a substantial portion of the overall height of the pallet and being arranged so as to define forklift passages between the projecting members of a substantially uniform overall height for receiving the arms of a forklift, said projecting members having flat bottom bearing surfaces for vertical load distribution and flat tapered side wall bearing surfaces for self aligning stackability, said flat tapered side walls having an overall height at least several times greater than their thickness and substantially the same as the forklift passages, said height and said hollow construction and said symmetrical arrangement of said projecting members being such that said projecting members may be nestably engaged with projecting members of another substantially identical unloaded pallet facing in the same direction and in a predetermined position of orientation and at least another position of orientation 180° out-of-phase therefrom, whereby a relatively large number of unloaded pallets may be nestably stacked so as to occupy considerably less space when being stored or shipped, a reinforcing gridwork of a plurality of reinforcing ribs and valleys located between and adjacent the various projecting members and adjacent the corresponding platform members for strengthening the pallet, the height of said reinforcing ribs and the depth of said valleys being only a fraction of the distance that said projecting members extend from said planar base so that said reinforcing gridwork does not interfere with the stacking of shipping containers and so that clearance is available for the arms of a forklift, and each of said upwardly extending protuberances having one of said downwardly extending projecting members proximally located thereto with the proximally located projecting member being positioned closer to the protuberance than the distance from the protuberance to the next adjacent protuberance so that said downwardly extending projecting members effect enhanced support for each of the items to be positioned on the respective protuberances and thereby effect enhanced load distribution for all the items positioned on the pallet.